Packaging apparatus



Dec. 1, 1970 I J. E. ULLMAN 3,543,469

PACKAGING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1966 9 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

JOHN E. ULLMAN A T TORNEX Dec 1, 1970 Original Filed April 25, 1966 J.E. ULLMAN PACKAG I NG APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 co m co m INVENTOR.

JOHN e. ULLMAN ATTORNEX Dec. 1, 1970 J. E. ULLMAN 3,543,459

PACKAGING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1966 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHNE. ULLMAN Q4 5. /4 ATTOR/VE I Y uvvnvrom Dec. 1, 1970 I J. E. ULQLMAN3,543,469

PACKAGING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25 1966 9 SheetS-Shefi 4M/VE/VTOR. J HNv E. ULLMAN ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1970 J, E ULLMAN PACKAGING APPARATUS 7 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled April 25, 1966 //v VE/VTOR.

JO HN E. ULLMAN ATTORNEX 2 Dec. 1,1970 J. E. ULLMAN 3,543,459

PACKAGING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25 1966 9 Sheets-Sheet eFQI/IGAQ H jail IIVVEIVTOR.

J OHN E. ULLMAN BY MWM ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1970 Original Filed April 25, 1966 PACKAGING APPARATUS 9Sheets-Sheet 7 206 ZIO 208 IIVVENTOR.

JOHN E. ULLMAN BY ATTORNEY. r

Deii- 1970 J. E. ULLMAN 3543,46

PACKAGING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25 1966 9 Sheets-Sheet a g ma.flu- INVENTOR.

JQHN E. ULLMAN AfTORNEX 1 1970 J. E. ULLMAN 3,543,,4

I PACKAGING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1966 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 uN394 M \J 382 426 402 l mama/ran. W26? JOHN E. ULLMAN Arm/mum UnitedStates Patent O 3,543,469 PACKAGING APPARATUS John E. Ullman, HuntingdonValley, Pa., assignor to Huntingdon Industries Incorporated, Bethayres,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application Apr. 25, 1966,Ser. No. 544,738, now Patent No. 3,397,509, dated Aug. 20, 1968. Dividedand this application May 22, 1968, Ser. No. 731,242 Int. Cl. B65b 43/10,47/04, 51/14 US. C]. 5329 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A methodof forming an end-closing case comprising the steps of applying adhesiveto the bottom flaps, folding the side panels at right angles to thebottom panel, folding the side flaps at right angles to the side panels,folding the bottom flaps at right angles to the bottom panel, pressingthe side and bottom flaps together to adhesively seal them, folding thetop panels outwardly from the case, filling the case, applying adhesiveto a top panel and to the top flaps, folding the top panels over so thatthe manufacturers flap laps said top panel, pressing the manufacturersflap and said top panel together to adhesively seal them, folding thetop flaps down, and pressing the top flaps and the side fiaps togetherto adhesively seal them.

In another embodiment of the invention, one of the top panels comprisesa manufacturers flap, and the method steps include folding themanufacturers flap at right angles to the side panels so that it lapsthe top panel, and pressing the top panel and manufacturers flaptogether to adhesively seal them.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisionof my patent application Ser. No. 544,738, filed Apr. 25, 1966, now US.Pat. No. 3,397,509, issued Aug. 20, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to packaging, andmore particularly concerns a case, and apparatus for forming, filling,and sealing the case.

Cases or cartons made of corrugated paperboard or the like are widelyused in the packaging of cans or similar articles. For example, 24 cansof soup or beer are quite commonly packaged in a corrugated paperboardcase and shipped therein to supermarkets or other distributors.

Such cases usually fall into two types: (1) top and bottom closingcases, and (2) end-closing cases. The top-closing cases include two sidepanels connected together by two end panels, with top and bottom flapsextending from the side and end panels. The top flaps are folded overand fastened together by an adhesive to form the top of the case, andthe bottom fiaps are folded over and fastened together to form thebottom.

An end-closing case differs from a top-closing case in that it has endflaps instead of top and bottom flaps. Accordingly, an end-closing casecomprises a top panel and a bottom panel connected together by a pair ofside panels, with end flaps extending from the top, bottom, and sidepanels. The end flaps at the front end of the case are folded over andfastened together by adhesive to form the front end of the case, and therear end flaps are folded over and fastened together to form the rearend.

Since many cases today are long and fiat, the end flaps of anend-closing case are smaller than the top and bottom flaps of atop-closing case of the same size.

3,543,469 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Accordingly, the blank of an end-closingcase is smaller and uses less paperboard, with paper savings as high asabout 30 percent as compared to the paperboard in the blank of atop-closing case of the same case size.

Therefore, many packers would prefer to use the endclosing case insteadof the top-closing case because of the saving in paperboard. However,the end-closing case is diflicult to load. conventionally, anend-closing case is supplied by the manufacturer in the form of aflattened tube, with a small flap called a manufacturers flap extendingfrom the top panel and connected to a side panel by gummed tape, staplesor an adhesive. To fill the case with cans, the panels are pulled awayfrom each other to open the tube so that the side panels form rightangles with the top and bottom panels, and the cans are pushed throughone end of the case tube. Then the case is sealed by folding over theend flaps and fastening them together with adhesive.

But shoving a load of cans into one end of such a tube is verydifficult, especially if a snug fit is desired. And packers prefer atight, snugly-fitting case because the cans are less likely to bedamaged in handling and shipping.

Packers also prefer a case which can be top-loaded, i.e., a case whichmay be loaded by passing the cans into the case through its top, becausemany loading machines are adapted for this type of loading. Top-loadingis easier than end-loading.

Another reason which prevents many packers from adopting end-closingcases, even though such are less costly than the top-closing type, isthat they have bought, and have present in their plants, conventionalcase sealing machines with horizontal compression units for sealing thecases, and such compression units are not usually adaptable for sealingend flaps of end-closing cases. Horizontal compression units areprovided with top and bottom conveyor belts which pass around horizontalrollers. The upper rollers are spring-backed and exert a downwardpressure on the top belt. Accordingly, pressure is exerted against thetop and bottom flaps of filled topclosing cases passing between thebelts, and this pressure holds the flaps in position and thereby assistsin setting the glue or other adhesive which fastens the :flaps together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto overcome the problems of the prior art.

It is another object to provide a transfer unit which feeds anend-closing case into a horizontal compression unit in such a mannerthat the case may be sealed therein.

It is another object to provide a modified end-closing case which may besealed in a horizontal compression unit.

It is another object to provide a case former which partly forms a caseand adapts it for top-loading.

It is another object to provide a method for forming an end-closingcase, loading it from the top, and sealing the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of thisinvention, including its simplicity and economy, as well as the easewith which it may be adapted to existing equipment, will further becomeapparent hereinafter and in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in top perspective of a flat, five-panel case blank;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the case blank with its bottom formedinto set-up condition filled with cans,

and with adhesive having been applied ready for final sealing action;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective which shows the case as it appears whenentering a transfer unit with the top panels folded over and the top endflaps extending substantially horizontally from the case;

FIG. 4 shows the case after the front top flaps have been turned down bythe bottom portion of a pusher element of the transfer unit and showsthe front top flaps in contact with a preceding case;

- FIG. 5 shows the case at a later stage in operation of the transferunit with the front flaps abutting the preceding case, and with the rearend top flaps having been turned down and being pushed forwardly by thepusher element;

FIG. 8 is a partial view in side elevation of another embodiment of thetransfer unit;

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of another embodiment of case blank;

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of the case blank of FIG. 9 with itsbottom in set-up condition, filled with cans, and with adhesive havingbeen applied ready for final sealing action;

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of the case of FIG. 10 as it appearswhen entering a transfer unit, with the top panel folded over themanufacturers flap, and with the top end flaps extending substantiallyhorizontally from the case;

FIG. 12 shows the case after the top front flap has been turned down bythe bottom portion of a pusher element of the transfer unit and showsthe front top flap in contact with a preceding case;

FIG. 13 shows the case of FIG. 10 at a later stage in operation of thetransfer unit with the front flap abutting 24 along a transverse creaseline 30, and a top sealing manufacturers flap 32 extending from firsttop panel 14 and adapted to be overlapped by second top panel 28 so thatthe top panels 14 and 28 may be connected together by a layer ofadhesive 34 between panel 28 and flap 32.

A front end top flap 36 is connected to first top panel 14 by alongitudinal crease line 38, and a rear end top flap 40 is connected tothe rear of first top panel 14 by a longitudinal crease line 42.Similarly, second top panel 28 is provided with a front end top flap 44connected to it by a longitudinal crease line 46, and a rear end topflap 48 connected to it by a longitudinal crease line 50.

As is shown in FIG. 2, stripes 52. of adhesive have been applied to theinner surfaces of flaps 36, 40, 44, and 48, and these flaps are adaptedto be fastened to the outer surfaces of end flaps 54 which extend fromside panels 16 and 24. A similar adhesive layer fastens end flaps 56,which extend from bottom panel 20, to end flaps 54. End flaps 54 and 56are connected to their associated panels by longitudinal-crease lines.

When the case blank 12 is erected, filled, closed, and sealed, thepanels and flaps are in folded position along the crease lines and forma six-sided case with 'an adhesive layer 34 connecting top-sealingmanufacturers flap 32'to top panel 28, an adhesive layer connecting thefront end flaps together to form the front end of the case, and anadhesive layer connecting the rear end flaps together to form the rearend.

the preceding case, and with the rear end flap having been turned downand being pushed forwardly by the pusher element;

FIG. 14 is a view in side elevation, partly schematic, showing theoverall packaging apparatus including bottom former, loader or packer,gluer and top folder, transfer unit or end sealer, and horizontalcompression unit;

FIG. 15 is a view in top plan of a fiat five-panel carton blankpositioned in the bottom former before the 'downward stroke of theforming mandrel;

FIG. 16 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows16-16 which appear in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view in top plan of the five-panel carton after thedownward stroke of the forming mandrel and shows the carton with itsbottom formed into set-up condition;

FIG. 18 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows1818 which appear in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows19-19 which appear in FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit of the endcompression unit forming part of the invention.

Although specific terms are used in the following description forclarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structure shownin the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularlyto FIGS. 6-7 of the drawings, there is shown a transfer unit 58 that isconstructed in accordance with the invention and is adapted to close afilled case. In general, the transfer unit cornprises means for turningdown the front .end top flaps 36 and 44, means for moving flaps 36 and44 against a preceding case to hold the flaps in compression to aid insetting the adhesive thereon, means for turning down the rear end topfiaps 40 and 48, and means for moving a succeeding case against the rearfiaps40 and 48 to hold them in compression to aid in setting theadhesive. The transfer unit also includes means for pressing the topsealing flap 32 against the lapped top panel 28 to aid in setting theadhesive layer 34 therebetween.

The cases are delivered to transfer unit 58- from a case gluer with toppanels 14 and 28 folded over and with topsealing flap 32 lapping toppanel 28, and with top flaps 36, 44, 40 and 48 extending outwardly fromthe case in substantially horizontal fashion. The cases are delivered toa receiving channel 60 formed by a bottom conveyor belt 62, a top guiderail 64, and a pair of side guide rails 66. Side guide rails 66 serve toguide the cases and keep them in line, and top guide rail 64 pressesdownwardly on the top panels to keep them closed until the case entersthe compression belt'section. j

Conveyor belt 62 is driven by a motor 68 and gear box 70 and moves thecases forwardly so that end flaps 36 and 44 contact curved bottomportion 72 of a pusher member 74 and are turned down thereby. Belt 62has a smooth surface and keeps moving when a case is stopped by apreceding case, because ofits slippingengagement withthecase. v, I

Pusher member 74 hangsdownwardly from a pivot pin 76 mounted in abracket 78 which is reciproc'able on a pair ofrods 80. h I As conveyorbelt 62 continues .to push a case forwardly, the front end of the caseactuates a limit switch 82, such as a microswitch, that is adjustablymounted on a base 83 supported on a side guide rail 66. Switch 82 movesbracket 78 and pusher memberv74 rearwardly by actuating a piston 85 inair cylinder 84. The piston is cofn nectedto both ends of bracket 78 bya cable 86 so that it is adapted to' move bracket 78 both forwardly andrearwardly.

' When pusher member 74 reaches the rear end of the case, itdropsdownwardly by gravity about its pivot pin 76, and pusher plates 88,which are at the front of pusher member 74, turn down rear end flaps 40and 48 during the course of this downward movement. Adjustable stopblocks 89 are mounted on rods 80 to prevent bracket 78 and pusher plates88 from traveling too far rearwardly. If pushers 88 overtravel, i.e. gopast the end of the trailing flaps, the pushers could push forwardlyagainst the end of the flap, instead of bending it down, and crush theflap. Accordingly, pusher plates 88 contact rear flaps 40 and 48, bendthem to the fully closed vertical position, and push the case in theforward direction. The case is pushed against the rear end of apreceding case which folds front flaps 36 and 44 to the fully closedposition and holds them in compression against side flaps 54.

The case is received by a horizontal compression unit 90 which includestop and bottom conveyor belts 92 and 94. The top belt 92 is trainedaround spring-loaded rollers 96 which exert a downward pressure on thebelt that, in turn, exerts pressure on the top panels 14 and 28 and topsealing flap 32 to assist in setting the adhesive layer 34.

Sealing pressure is exerted against the front flaps 36 and 44 by thepreceding case, and against rear flaps 40 and 48 by the following case.

In order to keep sealing pressure on the end flaps, the conveyor beltsof the compression unit 90 are not freewheeling. Instead, belts 92 and94 are driven by a motor provided with a brake. Conveyor belts 92 and 94are driven at a slower speed than conveyor belt 62 in transfer unit 58to insure that the end flaps of the cases are held in compression.

The elements of the transfer unit are supported in a frame 98 and areadjustable as to position in order to accommodate cases of varioussizes. The conveyor belts of compression unit 90 are similarlyadjustable.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown an alternative embodiment of thetransfer unit wherein pusher member 74 is driven by a reversible airmotor 100 instead of by the air cylinder 84. Air motor 100 drives asprocket 102 and a chain 104 which passes around an idler sprocket 106.Chain 104 is connected to bracket 78 and is adapted to move the bracketback and forth in response to the movement of air motor 100.

In operation, a filled case is delivered from a case gluer to transferunit 58 with its bottom end flaps 56 adhesively fastened to its side andflaps 54, and with its top panels 14 ad 28 folded over so that topsealing flap 32 is in contact with adhesive layer 34. The top end flaps36, 44, 40 and 48 extend outwardly from the case and have stripes 52 offreshly applied adhesive on their inner surfaces. The channel 60 oftransfer unit '58 receives the case, and conveyor belt 62 moves itforwardly while guide rail 64 holds the top panels 14 and 28 in closedposition ready for insertion into the compression belts. As belt 62continues to move the case forwardly, front flaps 36 and 44 contactcurved bottom portion 72 of pusher member 74 and this contact turns downthe flaps 36 and 44 to the extent shown in FIG. 4. The forward movementof the case moves the front flaps 36 and 44 into contact with apreceding case so that the flaps are prevented from resuming theirhorizontal position. As the case moves forward, it actuates switch 82which moves bracket 78 and pusher member 74 rearwardly, with pushermember 74 remaining in contact with the forward top flaps until theymake contact with the previous case, and pusher member is pivotedupwardly and moves rearwardly over the moving case.

When pusher member 74 reaches the rear end of the case, it dropsdownwardly by gravity about its pivot pin 76, and air cylinder 74 isreversed to move the piston and bracket 78 and pusher member 74forwardly.

Pusher plates 88 press the rear flaps 40 and 4 8 against the case andpush the case forwardly into contact with the preceding case incompression unit 90. Accordingly, at the end of the forward stroke ofpusher member 74, the front flaps 36 and 44 are held in compression by apreced- 6 ing case in compression unit 90, the top panels 14 and 28 andthe sealing flap 32 are held in compression by top belt 92, and the rearflaps 40 and 48 are held in compression by pusher plates 88.

Because of the sealing action of pusher plates '88 against the rearflaps 40 and 48, those flaps remain in place when pusher plates 88 arewithdrawn to act upon a succeeding case which has been delivered totransfer unit 58.

By the time the cases complete the course of travel through thecompression unit 90, they are thoroughly sealed.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-13, there is shown another embodiment of a caseblank 110, a four-panel case with a manufacturers flap extending fromthe top of a side panel. Blank comprises a top panel 112, a first sidepanel 114 connected to top panel 112 along a transverse crease line 116,a bottom panel 118 connected to first side panel 114 along a transversecrease line 120, a second side panel 122 connected to bottom panel 118along transverse crease line 124, and a top-sealing manufacturers flap126 connected to second side panel 122 along a transverse crease line128. Flap 126 is adapted to be overlapped by top panel 112 in order toconnect panel 122 to panel 112.

A front end top flap 132 is connected to top panel 112 by a longitudinalcrease line 134, and a rear end top flap 136 is connected to the rear oftop panel 112 by a longitudinal crease line 138.

As is shown in FIG. 10, stripes 140- of adhesive have been applied tothe inner surfaces of flaps 132 and 136 in a case gluer, and these flapsare adapted to be fastened to the outer surfaces of end flaps 142 whichextend from the side panels 114 and 122. Similar adhesive stripesalready fasten end flaps 144, which extend from bottom panel 118, to endflaps 142. End flaps 142 and 144 are connected to the panels bylongitudinal crease lines 134 and 138.

The operation of the transfer unit in closing and sealing a case madefrom case blank 110 is similar to the operation previously describedwith reference to a case made from case blank 12. A filled case isdelivered from a case gluer to the transfer unit 58- with its bottom endflaps 144 adhesively fastened to side end flaps 142, and with top panel112 and top-sealing manufacturers flap 126 folded over so that thesealing flap 126 is overlapped by top panel 112 and has an adhesivelayer therebetween. The top flaps 132 and 136 extend outwardly from thecase and have stripes 140 of adhesive applied to their inner surfaces.The channel 60 of transfer unit 58 receives the case, and conveyor belt62 moves it forwardly while rails '66 guide it and top rail 64 presseson the top panels to keep them closed until the case enters thecompression belt section. As belt 62 continues to move the caseforwardly, front flap 132 contacts curved bottom portion 72, of pushermember 74 and is turned downwardly. The continued forward movement ofthe case moves the front end flap 132 into contact with a preceding casewhich folds flap 132 into completely closed position and prevents itfrom resuming its horizontal position. Forward movement of the casecauses it to actuate switch 82 to move the piston in air cylinder 84 andthus move bracket 78 and pusher member 74 rearwardly, with the pushermember moving upwardly to ride rearwardly on the top panel 112.

When pusher member 74 reaches the rear end of the case, it dropsdownwardly by gravity about its pivot pin 76, and air cylinder 84 isreversed to move the piston and bracket 78 and pusher member 74 in theforward direction.

During this forward motion, pusher plates 88 press the rear flap 136against the case and push the case forwardly into contact with thepreceding case in compression unit 90. Accordingly, at the end of theforward stroke of pusher member 74, the front flap 132 is verticallypositioned and is being compressed by the preceding case in compressionunit 90, the top panel 112 and the manufactuers flap 12-6 are held incompression by top belt 92, and the rear flap 136 is held in compressionby pusher plates 88. During its course of travel through compressionunit 90, rear flap 136 is held in compression by a succeeding case whichis pushed into compression unit 90 by pusher plates 88.

There are many advantages to the transfer unit of the present invention.It enables a packer to use an endclosing case which is usually lessexpensive than a topclosing case because it requires less paperboard. Italso permits a packer to load his cases from the top, which is an easiermethod of loading. Moreover, it permits the packer to use equipmentwhich he already has in his plant, such as packing machines, casegluers, and horizontal compression units. Some minor modifications mayhave to be made to the existing equipment to allow their utilization.

Referring now to FIG. 14, there is shown the overall packaging apparatusfor forming, filling, and sealing a top closing case having top, bottom,and side panels and top, bottom, and side end flaps. The apparatuscomprises a bottom former 146 that forms the bottom and side panels andflap into set-up condition with the bottom flaps adhesively connected tothe side flaps, a packer or loader 148 which is adapted to fill thecases with material, such as cans, through the top of the case. Loader148 is of conventional cosntruction.

After the case has been filled with cans or other material, it is passedto a gluer and top folder 150 which applies an adhesive to the top flapsand to a top panel if the case includes a manufacturers flap which is tobe adhesively connected to the top panel. Gluer 150 also folds over thetop panel or panels to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 11.

From the gluer 150, the case is delivered to transfer unit 58 whichcloses the end flaps and presents the case to the compression unit 90.The unit 90 presses down against the top overlapping flaps of the case,for example, glued area 34 of flap 28 is pressed down againstmanufacturers flap 32 to form a seal, and moves the case at a rate ofspeed which is slower than belt 62, whereby the succeeding cases, asmoved by belt '62 and pusher 74,

push against the preceding cases so that the top end flaps blank, and aforming station 162 which forms the bottom of the case into set-upcondition with the side panels perpendicular to the bottom panel and thebottom flaps adhesively connected to the side flaps.

Gluer 150 includes means for moving the filled case through the gluerand applying an adhesive to the inside surfaces of the top flaps andpanel where desired, and means for folding over the top panel or panelsinto setup position. Gluer 150 is of conventional design.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-19, forming station 162 of bottom former 146is shown in more detail. A vertically reciprocable mandrel 164 isconnected to a crosshead 166. Also connected to crosshead 166 is avertically reciprocable cam body 168 whichis attached thereto (FIG. 18)by a bracket 170. H

Cam-guide rollers 172 mounted on plate 174 serve guide the verticalmovement of cam body 168.

A cam track 176 is formed in cam-body face 178 and the cam track 176includes a bend 180. A cam roller or lever 184 attached to one end of ashaft 186. A cross shaft 188 is connected to shaft 186 by mitre gears190. Levers 192 are mounted at each end ofcross shaft 188 and areconnected to push rods 194. The other ends of push rods 194are connectedto levers 196 of turner rods 198. v r

' Mounted on rods 198 are side flap turners 200. Pivotally mounted onside flap turners 200 are side panel turners 202 which include a returnspring 204. I

" Also mounted on turner rods 198 are levers 206 which are connected tolevers 208 by push rods 210. Levers 208 are mounted on turner rods 212which rota'tesimultaneously with turner rods 198 but in the oppositedirection ofrotation Mounted on turner rods 212-are sidefiap turners214, and pivotally mounted on side flap turners 214 are .sidepanelturners 216 which are provided with a return spring 218. l I

In operation of forming station 162 shownin FIGS. l 51 9, crosshead 166moves downwardly to move mandrel 164 and cam body 168in the downwarddirection. When cam follower 182 movesthrough bend 180, lever 184rotates shaft 186. Thismotion is transmitted by mitre gears 190 to crossshaft 188 and rotates its levers 192. 'Push rods 194 rotate levers 196and cause rotation of turner rods 198 to actuate sidefiap turners'200and side panel turners 202 to turn the side panels and flaps into set-upposition, i.e.,' from the'position of FIG. 15 to'the position of FIG.17. I

Further, the motion of turner rods 198 isftransmitted to turner rods 212through levers 206, push rods .'210, and levers 208. Accordingly, sideflap turners 214 and side panel turners 216 are actuated to 'turn theother side panel and flaps intoset-up position. As the mandrel 164continues downward travel, mandrel arms 2'20 (FIG.-18) rotate side panelturners 202 and 216 against their springs to move side panel turners 202and 216 out of the path of travel of the top panels of the case. Arms220 extend downwardly sl-ightly'from mandrel 164 and bend the top panelspast the horizontal so that the edges are lower than the top of the sidepanel. Accordingly, these edges are not contacted by a succeeding caseas they pass through a cage beneath mandrel 164 Bottom flap rollers 222roll the bottom flaps of the case into set-up position in'contact withthe side flaps.

On the upward stroke of'mandrel 164, cam follower .or rollerj182 againpasses thjrojugh cambend in cam track 176 and causes rotation of theshaft 186 and 188 to rotate levers 196 and to rot'ateturner rods 198 and212 to their originalpo'sitions through the action of push rods 194 and210. This returns side tflap turners 200, 214 and side panel turners202, 216 to their original positions asshown in FIG. 15, for example.

For illustrative purposes, a five-panel case blank 312 is shown in FIGS.15 and 17. Case blank 312 comprises a first top panel 314, 'afirst sidepanel 316 connected to top panel 314 along a transverse crease line 318,a bottom panel 320 connected to; first side panel316 along a transversecrease 1inej322, a second side panel 324 con-v nected to bottom panel320 along a transverse crease line 326, a second top panel 328 connectedto second side panel along a transverse'cre'ase line 330, and a topsealing manufacturer s flap 332 extending from first top panel 314 andadapted to be overlapped'by second top panel 328 so thatthe top panels314 and 328 may be connected together by a layer of'adhesive'betweenpanel 328 and end flap 332. 1 Y A front end top flap 336Qis connected tofirst top panel 314 by a longitudinal crease line 338, and a rear endtop flap 340 is connected to the rear offirst top panel 314 by alongitudinal crease line 342. Similarly, second top panel 328 isprovided with a front end top flap 34 4 connected to it bya'longitudinal crease line'3-46', and a rear end top flap 348 connectedto it by. a longitudinal crease line 350.

Side end flaps 354 are connected to side panels 316 and 324 bylongitudinal crease lines, and bottom end flaps 356 are connected tobottom panel 320 by longitudinal crease lines. Stripes. 358 of adhesivehave been freshly applied to the inner surface of bottom flaps 356.

In operation, case blank 312 is delivered to the forming station in theposition shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. Mandrel 164 descends and turnerrods 198 and 212 are rotated from the position of FIG. 15 to theposition of FIG. 17. Side flap turners 200 and 214 fold side flaps 354into position perpendicular to side panels 316 and 324.

Side panel turners 202 fold side panel 316, and side panel turners 216fold side panel 324 into position perpendicular to bottom panel 320.

Mandrel arms 220 fold top panels 314 and 328 outwardly into the positionshown in FIG. 17, and then arms 220 turn side panel turners 202 and 216out of the way to permit downward passage of top panels 314 and 328.

Also in the downward stroke of mandrel 164, bottom rollers 222 foldbottom flaps 356 into position against side flaps 354 and press thoseflaps together so that the stripes 358 of adhesive make good contactbetween them. The bottom-formed case blank 312 is caught and held byratchet-like pawls at the end of the downward stroke of the mandrel.Then the mandrel moves upwardly to its original position and side panelturners 202 and 216 are returned to their original position by returnsprings 204 and 218.

Turner rods 198 and 212 are returned to their original posit-ion inresponse to the upward movement of cam body 178.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6 and 20, the operation of thetransfer unit and its electrical circuit is as follows. In machine readyconditions, limit switch 82 is closed to contact 362 to energize thecoil of control relay 364 and close its contacts 366, Since pusher 74 isin its down position, limit switch 368 is closed to contact 370, andlimit switch 372 is closed to contact 374 to keep forward solenoid valve376 energized through closed contacts 378 of control relay 380. Contacts382 of relay 364 are open to keep compression belt motor switch 384de-energized and belts 92 and 94 stopped.

An incoming case actuates case detector switch 82 and closes it tocontact 386 and opens it to contact 362. Contacts 388 of relay 364,which had been previously closed, conducts power to energize rearwardsolenoid valve 390 and relay 380. Pusher 74 moves rearward.

When pusher 74 reaches its up position, relay 364 drops out, but notbefore switch 368 closes to contact 392 to maintain rearward solenoidvalve 390 energized, even though contacts 388 open to isolate switch 82.

When pusher 74 reaches the rear flaps of the case and starts to drop,switch 368 opens to contact 392 to de-energize rearward solenoid valve390 and relay 380.

Accordingly, pusher 74 stops and drops to the full down position, andcloses switch 372 to energize forward solenoid valve 376 throughcontacts 378. Contacts 382 Of relay 364, which are closed, conduct powerto energize time delay relay 394. Pusher 74 pushes the case firmlyagainst a preceding case and stalls against it for a predetermined timeinterval, and then on delay contact 396 of relay 394 closes to energizecompression belt motor starter 384 to move the belts 92 and 94 forwardlyfor the length of a case. Belts 92 and 94 move the case at a slowerspeed than pusher 74 would move if it were not impeded by the slowermoving case, but since pusher 74 is operated by air, the stalling ofpusher 74 does not damage its operating mechanism. This stalling insuresthat pressure is being exerted on the ends of the case by pusher 75.

In other words, the speed of pusher 74 is greater than the speed of thecompression belts 92, 94, but pusher 74 slows to compression belt speed.

When the case moves into compression unit 90, switch 82 no longercontacts it and returns to its original position closed to contact 362to energize relay 364 and open contacts 382 to stop the motor drivingthe compression belts.

In practice, this drive is equipped with a brake of sufficientcapability to prevent the belts 92, 94, from drifting the case away fromthe extreme forward position of pusher 74. Relay 364 is also energizedthrough switch 368 and contacts 366, since pusher 74 is in its downposition. The circuit has now returned to the machine ready conditionwith switch 372 and contacts 378 closed to energize forward solenoidvalve 376 to maintain air pressure on pusher 74 to exert pressure on therear flaps of the case to seal them. Succeeding cases repeat the cycle.

Jam safety switch 398 is closed in normal operation and time delay relay400 is energized by each case as it passes. If a case does not leaveswitch 398 before contact 402 of relay 400 opens, this indicates that ajam has occurred and gluer motor starter 404 is deenergized to stop thegluer.

Also included in the circuit are: start switch 406, stop switch 408,transfer motor starter switch 410 and its contacts 411, overloadswitches 412, selector switch 414, jog switch 416, and the gluer startercontrols 418, including gluer start switch 420, gluer stop switch 422,transfer motor auxiliary switch contacts 424 of transfer motor switch410 that insure that the transfer unit is operating before the gluerwill run, and glue start switch contacts 426.

The case former of this invention is adapted to form a five-panel casehaving two top panels with a manufacturers flap connecting the two toppanels, a five-panel case having two top panels connected together bytape, and a four-panel case with a single top panel connected to a sidepanel by a manufacturers flap extending from the top. I

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a presently preferred embodiment. Variouschanges may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts. Forexample, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustratedand described herein, parts may be reversed, and certain features of theinvention may be utilized independently of the use of other features,all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming an end-closing case from a blank having a firsttop panel, a first side panel connected to the first top panel along atransverse crease line, a bottom panel connected to the first side panelalong a transverse crease line, a second side panel connected to thebottom panel along a transverse crease line, a second top panelconnected to the second side panel along a transverse crease line, atop-sealing manufacturers flap extending from one top panel and adaptedto lap the other top panel, top flaps connected to the first and secondtop panels along longitudinal crease lines, bottom flaps connected tothe bottom panel along longitudinal crease lines, and side flapsconnected to the side panels along longitudinal crease lines, comprisingthe steps of applying adhesive to the bottom flaps, folding the sidepanels at right angles to the bottom panel, folding the side flaps atright angles to the side panels, folding the bottom flaps at rightangles to the bottom panel, pressing the side and bottom flaps togetherto adhesively seal them, folding the top panels outwardly from the case,filling the case, applying adhesive to the said other top panel and tothe top flaps, folding the top panels over so that the manufacturersflap laps said other top panel, pressing the manufacturers flap and saidother top panel together to adhesively seal them, folding the top flapsdown, and pressing the top flaps and the side flaps together toadhesively seal them, wherein said top flaps have front end top flapsand rear end top flaps, said method including the step of moving theclosed case along a horizontal path where said pressing is applied tothe front end top flaps by a preceding case, and said pressing isapplied to the rear end top flaps by a following case.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the top flaps overlap, including thestep of folding the top flaps so that they overlap, and sealing theoverlapped top flaps to each other as well as to the side flaps.

3. A method of forming an end-closing case from a blank having a firsttop panel, a first side panel connected to the first top panel along atransverse crease line, a bottom panel connected to the first side panelalong a transverse crease line, a second side panel connected to thebottom panel along a transverse crease line, a second top panelcomprising a top-sealing manufacturers flap connected to the second sidepanel along a transverse crease line, top flaps connected to the firsttop panel along longitudinal crease lines, bottom flaps connected to thebottom panel along longitudinal crease lines, and side flaps connectedto the side panels along longitudinal crease lines, comprising the stepsof applying adhesive to the bottom flaps, folding the side panels atright angles to the bottom panel, folding the side flaps at right anglesto the side panels, folding the bottom flaps at right angles to thebottom panel, pressing the side and bottom flaps together to adhesivelyseal them, folding the first top panel outwardly from the case, fillingthe case, applying adhesive to the first top panel and top flaps,folding the first top panel at right angles to the side panels, foldingthe manufacturers flap at right angles to the side panels so that itlaps the first top panel, pressing the first top panel and manufacturersflap together to adhesively seal them, folding the top flaps down, andpressing the top flaps and the side fiaps together to adhesively sealthem, said top flaps including a front end top flap and a rear end topflap, said method including the step of moving the closed case along ahorizontal path where said pressing is applied to.the front end top flapby a preceding'case, and said pressing is applied to the rear endtop'flap by a following case. p v

4. Packaging apparatus for forming, filling, and sealing a top-closingcase having top, bottom, and side panels and top front, top rear,bottom, and side end flaps, comprising bottom forming means for formingthe bottom and side panels and flaps into set-up condition with thebottom flaps adhesively connected to the side flaps, loader means forfilling the case with material through the top of the case, gluer meansfor'applying an adhesive to the top flaps and folding over the toppanel, transfer means for folding the top flaps intocontact with theside flaps, said transfer means including pusher means for moving thecase into compression means and flattening said top front flap against apreceding case to hold said top frontflap in compressionto aid insetting the adhesive thereon, and compression means for holding the topflaps in compression until their adhesive sets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, PrimaryExaminer E. F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.

